Lewis Hamilton is adamant he dwells little on the past, his recollection of myriad victories and record-breaking moments indistinct and uncertain such is his forward focus. After the Dutch Grand Prix at the weekend Max Verstappen, who shares a champion’s trait in relentlessly anticipating the next challenge, will nonetheless surely have reason to indulge in a pleasing reminiscence of this race when the twilight years beckon.
As the wins tick over for Verstappen – 46 and counting – his victory in Zandvoort was a celebration writ large in vivid orange. A huge crowd of 105,000 revelled in what they feel is now inevitable, that the Dutchman will secure his third title this season and sooner rather than later. It is likely, even, at Japan later this month, with six races in hand. That he equalled Sebastian Vettel’s record of nine consecutive F1 victories at his home race was the icing on the cake.
They come to see him win and Verstappen delivers, time and time again. The Dutch GP returned to the F1 calendar in 2021 after an absence since 1985. Each year he has taken pole. Each year since he has won from pole. The circuit has a contract until 2025 and it will likely stay on the calendar long after, certainly as long as Verstappen keeps driving. There will perhaps be no little consternation when the fans turn up here on one of those occasions and someone else claims pole or the win. It will be a result that may take a little processing on the bike ride out of Zandvoort.
Verstappen won on Sunday with another consummate performance, defying two severe rain spells that made the track hugely treacherous with skill that was lacking in some of his contemporaries and in the intervening periods he delivered such devastating quick laps he once more left the field behind.
Verstappen was on a roll. As was Zandvoort. The atmosphere at this circuit is undeniably special. Much has been made of the toxic nature of F1 social media in the last few years, particularly with Verstappen and Hamilton fans relentlessly exchanging barbs, both poisonous and pointless. There were also the accusations of sexist catcalling, inappropriate touching of female fans and homophobic and racist abuse by Dutch fans at the Austrian GP in 2022. All of which was condemned by Verstappen.
In Zandvoort the atmosphere could not have been more convivial. A lone couple of Dutch Hamilton fans, sat at the front of the main grandstand their banner proudly announcing their allegiance, were clearly having nothing but fun amid their orange-clad company. While in the fan areas across the weekend the overwhelming sense was perhaps only to follow the wise advice of Spinal Tap’s Viv Savage and his earnest entreaty: “Have ... A good time ... All the time.”
Before the start they danced, bounced and waved their arms as an orchestra under the conduction of André Rieu, each member clad in evening dress swaying enthusiastically to a pounding EDM beat, performed in perfect harmony with a Dutch DJ to the obvious pleasure of both parties.
The fans then were already on their feet when the orchestra and singers belted out a rousing version of the Dutch national anthem. The marshals, too, were bopping on the spot by now and if anyone was not grinning ear to ear by the time the business end of the day began and the lights went out then they were the poorer for it.
Verstappen had to wear all this additional anticipation and hope, but did so with ease, as the Red Bull team principal, Christian Horner, noted. “The most impressive thing this weekend is all the pressure and expectation that Max is under from 100,000 Dutch fans. A lot would have cracked under that pressure and he kept his composure and delivered, as he’s done so many times.”
Indeed he did, not least in coming back when relegated to fourth through the rain-induced pit stops to then carve through the field to the lead once more. Were anyone in the picturesque town of Haarlem five miles away unsure as to what was happening, the roar that accompanied each pass surely carried every bit as much as the engines that rival only the seagulls for their noise here on the edge of the North Sea.
As Horner also observed this was the stuff of champions. “Having emerged from the pits behind a lot of cars and having to come through the pack the way he did, there’s a lot of drivers that would have buckled under. He kept his head and he was phenomenal.”
It is a fair assessment and Horner also called him a generational talent, which is no exaggeration on this form. Verstappen had equalled a record that was thought all but untouchable and that after a race in which so much could have gone wrong. More wins will doubtless follow but delivering this one for the home crowd was something special he will remember. As surely will the weary but beaming fans as they weaved their way home after a grand day out by the sea.
